2015 Volkswagen Sharan — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2015 Volkswagen Sharan passed 84.1% of its 19,018 recorded MOT tests. Against MPVs of a similar age (17.1% fail rate), the 2015 Sharan comes out 1.1pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (7.2%) and suspension (6.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, tread depth and headlamp aim — pins and bushes alone was recorded 1,304 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 11.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 15.5% once past 150k.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 27.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 14.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.2% | 1,376 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.6% | 1,253 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 4.9% | 927 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.8% | 525 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.5% | 470 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.2% | 418 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pins and bushes | 1,304 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 712 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 378 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 335 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 323 |
| 6 | Wipers | 296 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 27.8% | 5,286 |
| 2 | Suspension | 22.6% | 4,298 |
| 3 | Brakes | 18.4% | 3,492 |
| 4 | Other defects | 10.3% | 1,959 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.0% | 945 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.4% | 837 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 474 | 11.4% |
| 30-60k | 3,850 | 14.4% |
| 60-90k | 5,269 | 16.4% |
| 90-120k | 3,532 | 17.6% |
| 120-150k | 1,982 | 16.6% |
| 150k+ | 3,906 | 15.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 18,660 | 16.0% |
| Petrol | 358 | 13.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,900 | 14.7% |
| 2022 | 3,852 | 14.6% |
| 2023 | 3,804 | 15.9% |
| 2024 | 3,781 | 17.2% |
| 2025 | 3,681 | 17.3% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Sharan
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 7.2% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (7.2% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Suspension (6.6% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Lighting & signalling (4.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2015 Volkswagen Sharans pass their MOT?
84.1% of the 19,018 2015 Volkswagen Sharan MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Volkswagen Sharan?
Tyres, recorded in 7.2% of tests, followed by suspension (6.6%).
Does the 2015 Sharan get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.4% in the 0-30k band to 15.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 19,018 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.